Tailored International Internship: 3 to 8 Weeks

I am a first-generation college student, and going to Belize was an experience I will always carry with me. At first, I was afraid that I wouldn't make an impact at my internship or that I would get homesick more than a thousand miles away from home. In the end, I made great friendships and discovered some of my passions in life. The experiences were so pure that I grew in many ways. As soon as I stepped into the warm blanket that is the Belizean weather, I felt attended to. Our driver, Mr. Roberto, welcomed us with a warm smile and took us to our destination in San Ignacio, Belize. The program staff was always attentive to our needs and gave us all of the necessary tools to grow professionally and personally. That is exactly what happened to me and reciprocity played a huge role. I was able to conduct presentations for surrounding schools in the town of Santa Elena. I interned in the Santa Elena Public Library and had great support from my supervisors. I worked both independently and in groups with the staff as well as with people of the community. This made the experience so much more rewarding. The daily face to face contact was something I still keep close to my heart. One of the most memorable moments was swimming in the Carribean Sea. I was also able to cook alongside Mayan women and prepare a traditional meal with the Garifuna people on their island, in South Belize. These immersive experiences definitely were some of my most memorable. Reading about a culture in a history textbook is one thing, but tasting the culture is something I will certainly never forget. TEP played a major role in my success in the program and I will be eternally grateful. Oh yeah, and how can I forget, I climbed to the top of the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.

From beginning to the end the experience went well. I especially was impressed with the level of engagement by the administrators. They kept me informed every step of the way. This program exceeded my expectations.

The Toucan Education Program (TEP) helped me to connect to organizations in Belize where I could share my own expertise in a reciprocal learning environment. I learned more about the Belizean education and culture from the two organizations that hosted me, than they probably learned from me. The TEP organizers arranged for all meetings, transportation, and events during my stay. They checked in on all of the members of our group on a daily basis . . . always making sure we were enjoying our experience and having our needs met. I made connections that I hope will last for a lifetime, and I'm already planning to go back!